EPF Is Law With The Governor's Signature

Environmentalists have two things to cheer about today. Not only are many of them pleased with the survival of a plan to ease traffic congestion in New York City, they are cheering Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s signing yesterday of a bill to increase the state Environmental Protection Fund from $250 million to $300 million over the next three years.

Earlier this week, there were worries that the bill might be vetoed due to concerns about continued use of the state’s massive real estate transfer tax, which supports most of the ELF. There was also some, admittedly lower level concern that Spitzer would let it become law without signing, which would amount to a lukewarm endorsement.

But the governor signed the bill after all, much to the delight of groups like the Nature Conservancy which applauded the governor for what they termed his continued ‘leadership’ on the issue.

Others joining in the praise included Environmental Advocates, Sierra Club, Adirondack Council, Farm Bureau, NIPPING, Scenic Hudson, Audubon, Natural Resources Defense Council and Adirondack Mountain Club to name a few.

The ELF is popular with such groups as the money goes to purchasing land and easements that protect it from development, and recycling and solid waste disposal programs.